"There
is a drop in production, there is a drop in quality which is a very
serious concern because this is the best time for production, and we
are not able to pluck theleaves in time from the bush, so the disruption in the plucking season has greatly impaired the quality," Lochan said.

The
industry estimates that it is piling up losses of half a million
dollars a day due to the strike, and exports could be down by 25
percent this year.

The region produces about 10 million
kilograms of high quality brews - the fragrant Darjeeling teas are
considered the finest in the world. Much of it is exported to theMiddle East, Pakistan, Russia and Germany.

Tea is not the only industry to be affected by political unrest in the region.

Tourists
have also been scared away from the region after protestors blocked a
key highway. Thousands who were in the hills when trouble broke out
earlier this month leftthe region. Others have cancelled bookings.

About half a million tourists visit the region every year in the summer months.

The tea and tourism industries are the mainstay of the local economy in the region.

India
accounts for about one-third of the global production of tea. Not all
of it is grown on the Darjeeling hills - there are sprawling tea
estates in other hilly regions as well.

The protestors have warned their strike will continue until the federal government opens talks with them.